Machine for casting and finishing curved stereotypes.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. IQH.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

9 bHEETS-SHEET 2 m: NORRIS "5152:, cc. Puom-Llfuu. wAsuuvcmu, n. c.

c. E. HOPKINS. v MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22 IBIZ- ,3% Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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. .C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING AND FINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. 19H.

Patented M13, I918 9 SHEETS-SHEET 4- E "anus I'EILIIIS m. rnmugga.Ill-summon. n. c.

'- C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE,FOR.CASTING AND FINISHiNG CURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22. 19H.

Patented Dec. 8, 1918.

9 SHEETS8HEET 5- y ath-24 c. E, HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR CASTING ANDFINISHING curzvao STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. 19H. g fim Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

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a? @5522, riliullll n1 1| 4 0:5 HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR CASTING ANDFINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FIL ED SEPT.22. IQII.

Patented Dec. 3, I918.

9 SHEETS--$HEET 7- C; E HOPKINS.

MACHINE FDR CASTING AND FINISHING QURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION man sEPT.22. Ian.

Patented Dec. 3, v 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET B- I has 5%}7%/rmt m: mums rnus ca. Pnaraurnm. uusnmcwn.n. c

C. E. HOPKINS.

MACHINE FORCASTING AND FINISHING CURVED STEREOTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22.1917.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9- cHnnLEs E. norxms, on NEW YORK, n. Y. i

mncrrinnroit cesrme AND FINISHING cnnvnn srnnnorvrns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented neeaiaie.

Original application filed March is, 1907, Serial no. 362,111. Dividedand. this application filed. September y 22, 1917. Serial 110,192,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CHARLES E. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York,have invented a new and useful Machine for Casting. and FinishingCurvedStereotypes, of which the following is a specification.

a This is a division of .my Patent No.

1,240,850 granted September .25, 1917, on apparatus for finishing curvedstereotypes originally filed Mar. 13, 1907 k The present inventionconsists of im; provements in apparatus for transferring,

from the casting boxes into position to be finished, curved stereotypessuch as are cast in that described in the specification of BritishLetters Patent 12850 of 1903 and a 4300 of 1906 and U. S. Patent .733,202. The

apparatus described therein included hand means for transferring thenewly cast and therefore unfinished stereotype fromstereotypetransferring frame D to thetop surface of a drum on stereotypereceiver. The specification of an intermediate Patent 19333 of 1905described a finishing appara tus inwhich the newly cast stereotype wasplaced upon a receiver and moved by hand along the latter to a hollowcylinder.

The objects of the present invention are to improve some of my priorinventions in this line, in which certain relationships are shownbetween a stereotype receiver and the finishing mechanism, so as toprovide a receiver independent of all cutting means and so related tothe casting box as to receive the stereotype therefrom and bring it intoproper position at the end of the finishing, mechanism to slide directlyinto thelatter longitudinally; to provide an improved receiver in theform of a skeleton frame for receiving the stereotype directly from thecasting box, and to provide improved means for removing the plate fromthe mold in. which it is cast and leave it in position to be finished.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings which are to be taken as part ofthis specification and read therewith, y l y s Figure 1 is a frontelevation showing the improved associated casting apparatus and receiverin the f at rest position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding with Fig. 1; a s

Fig. is a plan corresponding with the a. rest 7 esaion of Fig. 1,butqomitting the stereotype; y Figi 4; an enlargedfront elevationshowing three difierent positions of the stereo type carrying framehandits cooperation with thestereotype receiver; s

Fig, 5 a sectionalfront elevation showing thexcoioperation of thestereotype receiver with the starting lever of the finishing ap- PM WFig. 6 is a left-hand side. eleveation of Fig. Sloolringat it, inthedirection of the arrow;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of part of the driving connections;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation, looking at Fig. 9 in the directionof thearrow, l

of the same connections;

Fig.9 is an enlarged front elevation and a section corresponding withFigs? and 8; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail side elevation of thestarting rod. and connected parts, in the 9 at rest position, and a sFig. 11 is a like elevation of. the same parts when the stereotype is onthe receiver, the detent disengaged from the ratchet wheel and thedriving clutch on the point of being closed. s

s In the apparatus of British Patent No. 12,850 of 1903, the stereotypewas cast between afixed upright cope O and a drag movable away from it.The drag carried a transferring frame D semi-circular in front elevationand the newly cast stereotype lay. upon it, printing face downward,asshown in Fig. 1 hereof. It is. pivoted by the pivot (Z7 to therespective side of the bottom D of, the drag, asshown in Figs. 1, 3 and1, so that swinging it upward and to one side,

i puts the said stereotype into a reversed pos1- off the riser and valveslug and beveled the ends ofthe stereotype. p According to the presentinvention, the receiver is independent of all cutting means, is locatedat the end of the finishing mechanism, and is a semi-circular frameinstead of a drum, suchframe consisting of two segments 19 and20,connected by two parallel 21, 22, each .having a horizontal ledge 23,9A the latter being positioned to receive and support the saidstereotype as shown best in Fig. 4, the segments being cut away alongthe line 35 Fig. 4, to enable the transverse ribs 25, Fig. 4, and thesprue 35 that is cast in the valve nozzle 45 of the cope C, to clearthem when the conveyer pulls the stereotype off the receiver. The ledge24 has a central ridge 24'*Fig. 4 extending for the full length of it toengage in a corresponding groove in the respective side edge of the saidstereotype. It is similar to the angle bar 103 of the British Patent4300 of 1906 and serves the same purpose. The segments 19, 20 stand wellwithin the length of the printing face of the stereotype 100, as shownin Fig. 2, in order that the riser 26 and valve slug 27 as well as thelug 28 on the concave face of the riser 26, and which the conveyerseizes hold of when the latter has to pull the newly cast stereotype offthe receiver 19-24, into the hollow finishing cylinder 213, may allthree overhang the said segments. This receiver is pivoted by lugs 29,30, which radiate from its segments 19,20, at-about its center, to theadjacent ends of levers 31, 32, fulcrumed on a fixed axis 33 in theframe 34 of the finishing apparatus. The opposite ends of the saidlevers carry rollers 36 and extend far enough toward the pivot line d ofthe frame D for the said rollers to be engaged by projections 37 on thelatter. Which projections will, when the frame D is swung up, rock thesaid opposite ends downward, and the receiver 1924 upward and toward thethen approaching stereotype, as shown by the set of dot and dash lines Ain Fig. 4. Further, this receiver is connected by links 38, 39, whichare pivoted by their respective ends to pivots'40 located between itscenter and the side of it next to the frame D with a rod 41 on the frame34, below the fulcrum line of the above mentioned levers 31, 32. Theeffect of such linkage is to rock the rising receiver far enough over tomeet the rising stereotype, so that when they do meet, their circularcontours shall be parallel with each other.

This improved receiver is so mounted and located in the apparatus withreference to the finishing cylinder 213, that when it has an unfinishedstereotype upon it, its axis is a little lower than that of thefinishing cylinder and a little to one side-the rightof it. The linkagejust mentioned has the effect of making the improved receiver 1924 holdthe top of its ledges 23, 24 in the horizontal plane when the newly caststereotypeis ready for the conveyer to push it toward the finishingcylinder. 40 is a so-called starting-lever fulcrumed upon the frame 34,having its longer arm under the edge 7 9 of the receiver and its shorterand opposite arm engaged with the top end of a starting rod 41. Thespring 44 is preferably a spiral one surrounding the rod 41 andresilient between the guide 42 and a collar 145 beneath it and fast onthe rod 41. 46 is a collar fast on the same rod 41 above the guide 42 toprevent the return of the rod 41 rocking the nose of the lever 40 toohigh for the side edge 7 9 to engage with it. The weight of the rod 41supplemented (it may be) by a weak spring 44, is relied on to return it.42, 43 are guides fast on the frame 34, for the rod 41 to slide in. Thestarting rod 41 has a bell crank lever 47 fulcrumed on it, (Fig. 6) thislever being generally parallel with the rod 41 and kept so by a spring48 and a stop 49, the latter on the rod 41. The spring 48 is preferablya spiral one resilient between a lug 50 on the rod 41 and the top arm ofthe lever .47 and supported in its working position by a straight rod51, fast by one end to the lug 50 and having the other passed through ahole in the said top arm of the lever 47, so that the latter can workfreely over it. 52 is a lug on the lever 47 and 53 a projection on theside of a detent 54 pivoted on a fixed stud 54 55 is a ratchet wheelcombined with the driving clutch and is a spring pulling from a fixedpoint in the frame 34 and on the detent 54 to engage it with the wheel55.

The driving shaft extends lengthwise of the frame 34 and is rotatedconstantly through a driving pulley 81. V A worm 82 fast on it, drives aworm wheel 83 which is loose on a transverse shaft 84 in the rear end ofthe frame 34. The inner face of this worm wheel 83 is hollowed out toembrace several equally distanced driving pegs 84 fast to it andprojecting from it in lines parallel with its axis, as well as a drivingclutch 85 fast on the transverse shaft 84. This driving clutch 85 has aradial driving pawl 86 pivoted on it, and a spring 87 fast to the clutch85 and pulling the pawl 86 into the path of the pegs 84. Next to thisdriving clutch 85 is the ratchet wheel above mentioned, loose on thetransverse shaft 84, and having a radial driving arm 88 pivoted on itsside and near its periphery, by a pivot 89 that is parallel with theshaft 84. driving pin 89 is passed through the nose of the driving arm88, the ratchet wheel 55, the driving pawl 86 and the driving clutch 85,holding the four together. But the ratchet wheel 55 has an arcuate slot90 about the pin 89 to allow of it moving independently of the otherthree pieces 85, 86 and 88.

The finishing cylinder 213 is located on bearing rings 215 in front ofthe stereotype receiver 1924 (already described) and ap proximatelyaxially alined with the lower position of the latter. 218, 219 are twosupports for the unfinished stereotype. They project radially inwardfrom the internal face of the cylinder 213, the former fixed and thelatter movable nearly vertically, butboth standingat the same level andin the same plane as the stereotype supportsonthe re ports 218, 219. i

The stereotype 100 stands with one side edge of the fixed support 218 ata short distance from the adjacent cylinder face and with the oppositeedge on thevertically movable support 219. l

. Operation.

The plate being cast; the drag is moved out on its wheels 01 along ahorizontal track d and tipped to horizontal position with an unfinishedstereotype lying on the frame 1) ready for removal tothe receiver 19 24Figs. 1, 3 and 4. This removal is effected by rocking the frame Donitspivot 01', whereby the concave face of the stereotype and the topof the receiver 19 24, meet, as shown by the dot and dash lines A ofFig. 4, the frame D being thereupon swung down upon the hottomD"again(asindicated by dot and dash lines B of the same figure) so leaving thestereotype upon the receiver,-as in the Patent 12850 of 1903. As theiniproved receiver 19-24is rocked up by the engagement of the frame Dwithit, the starting rod 41 drops, raisesthe left hand end of thestarting lever .(Fig. 5, dot and dash lines), carries the stud2'71 onthe lever 47 down clear of the stud 270 on the radial arm 2'65, and thelug52 (likewise on the said lever 47 below the level of the projection53 on the detent 54. As soon asthe stud 271 clears the stud 270, thespring48 rocks the depending arm of the bell-crank lever .47 up to thestop 49, thereby placing the lug52 vertically under and a little belowthe projection 53 Fig. 8. The receiver 19.24with the unfinishedstereotype on, it, drops below its former position (theone shown bythedot and dash lines in Fig.5)[intotlie one shown by the full lines inFigs. .4 and 5. HAs it drops, its side79 again, engagesthe adjacent armof the starting 1ever40? and raises the starting rod 41, thereby makingthe lug 52 engage the ljprojection .53 ion the detentf54 and disengagethe latterfronf the vv'heel55 (Fig. 11), whereupon the spring srpuus theratchet wheel 55 thmughfa short are, thanks to the slot90, and intheworking div rection, thereby rockingthe drivingpawl. 86

about the driving pin 89*iiitothe pathof the driving pegs 84, wherebythe next following peg. 84 ficomes up to the driving pawl 86, closesthedrivingclutch and starts the shaft 84. During the lastmentionedrise ofthe rod 41, thestud 271 found the stud 270 inits path and rocked it tothe rear, thanks to the pivot 266 and spring 267. I i

The cam 262 begins to turn with the shaft 84 and worm wheel 92 to whichthe cam is finedly connected. Atthat mon1ent,the con-f veyer finger 247?stands in its rearmost position,Fig. 2;full lines,the weight ofthe unfinished stereotype *holdingfthe finger 247 down in the conveyer head246 and the bottom of theslot 249 holding the front portion of thestereotypeup, but at an angle too small to show in the figure. The camgroove 261 makes the conveyer move to the front,

through the operation of rock shaft256, arm

255,and links 257 and 25'4,far enough to de posit the unfinishedstereotype uponthe cylinder supports 218,219. The stereotype havstopsthe conveyer.

The act of clamping the untrimmed stere During the rotation ofthecylinder 213, and while the stereotype,jas it is being finished, is

moreorless belowa horizontal diameter of thecylindenthe cam groove 261moves the conveyer to the rear,stopping whenthe finger ing been thusdeposited, the cam groove 261 loo 247? has passed beyond the rear end ofthe finished stereotype 100, Fig. 2, dot anddash linesb. During the timetheconveyer is so lowering brings thetop of the stereotype 100 lowenough for the finger 247 to engage its rear end The cylinder 213 beingno locked, the cam groove 261 moves the conveyer to the frontagainthereby causing the finger" 247 to eject the stereotype 10OFig.

2,dotand dash and section lines 0. As soon asthe ejection is effected,the said groove re turns. the conveyer to the rear of the apengage thestud 271, thereby rocking the depending arm or thebell-crank lever 47 t0the rear and moving the lug 52 from under the projection 53 on thedetent 54, where upon the latter ispulled byits spring75 intoengagementwith the ratchet wheel 55" j thereby opening the drivingclutch andbrlnging the. apparatus to the at rest Although Ihaveillustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the inventiondejparatus, the arm 264, .265 making thestud any person skilled in theart without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed inthe claims, Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. In astereotype machine, the combina tion of castingv apparatus, finishingapparatus, a receiver adapted to receive a stereotype from the castingapparatus and to bring it into the proper position for being slid intothe finishing apparatus, and means for sliding the stereotype from thereceiver into the finishing apparatus.

2. In; a stereotype machine, the combina-.

tion of casting apparatus, finishing apparatus having a rotary cylinder,a receiver adapted to be brought into register with one end of thecylinder, and means to transfer a stereotype longitudinally from thereceiver to the cylinder. 3. The combination with a horizontal finishingmechanism and an upright casting mold located beyond the end but at oneside thereof, said mold having a drag movable down to horizontalposition also at the end of the finishing mechanism but at one sidethereof, and means for moving the cast plate from the drag to a positionat the end of the finishing mechanism and in alinement therewith.

4c The combination with a horizontal finishing mechanism and an uprightcasting mold located beyond'the end but at one side thereof, saidvmold'having a drag movable down to horizontal position also at the endof the finishing mechanism but at one side thereof, means for moving thecast plate from the drag to a position at the end of the finishingmechanism and in alinement therewith, and means for automaticallysliding the plate longitudinally into the finish- 6. The combinationwith one member of' acasting. box adapted to cast a plate, of means fordehverlng the plate from said member with its prlnting face down, meansfor inverting the plate and moving it laterally, and a finishingmechanism in alinement with but beyond the end of the position oftheplate when inverted.

Ina curved stereotype plate making,

machine, the combination of a'casting mechanism, a finishing mechanismarranged out of alinement therewith, means for delivering a stereotypeplate cast in the casting mechanism into alinement with the finishingmechanism, supports in the finishing mechanism for the plate, means overwhich the plate can be moved to said supports, and means for effecting arelative rocking movement between the supports and finishing mechanismto hold the plate.

8. In a. curved stereotype plate making machine, the combination of acasting mechanism, a finishing mechanism, means for delivering astereotype plate cast in the casting mechanism into alinement with thefinishing mechanism, supports in the finishing mechanism for the plate,and means for effecting a relative rocking movement between the supportsand finishing mechanism to hold the plate.

9. In a curved stereotype plate casting and finishing mechanism, thecombination of a finishing mechanism, a back positioned at one side ofthe finishing mechanism, a frame pivotally movable as a whole from saidback into a position at the side of the finishing mechanism, and meansfor delivering a stereotype plate from said frame into alinement withthe finishing mechanism with the convex face of the plate up.

10. In a curved stereotype plate making machine, the combination of aframe, a casting mold supported at one side of the frame, a shavingknife extending lengthwise of the frame, a shaving arch above and alinedwith the shaving knife shaft, guideways alined with the shaving knifeshaft, means for revolving the shaving mechanism, means for removing acurved plate from the casting mold to a position at the side thereof andalining it with the guideways so it can be moved into the arch, andmeans for causing the shaving mechanism to make one revolution and stop.

11. The combination with an upright back, of means for receiving a platelocated substantially on a level with the top of said back in horizontalposition, and means for moving the cast plates out of the back and forthen elevating the plates into alinement with said receiving means.

12. The combination with an upright back, of means independent of allfinishing mechanism for receiving a plate located substantially on alevel with the top of said back, means for moving the cast plates out ofthe back, and into alinement with said receiving means, and anindependent finishing mechanism in alinement with said receiving means.

18. In a machine for making stereotype printing plates, the combinationwith a mold for casting the plate, of a frame mounted adjacent thereto,means on said frame for engaging the plate and Separating it from saidmold when the frame moves away from the mold, and guideways in positionfor swinging frame for engaging the plate on 10 said mold and taking itaway from said mold with the swinging frame, and guideways for receivingthe plate from said frame longitudinallyg In testimony whereof I havehereunto 15 afiixed my signature.

CHARLES E. HorKiNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

